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Is there a Chris Carpenter or a Frank Thomas in this year's free-agent crop?

No, not the guys who were on top of the world in 2006, but the guys who were thrown onto the market as damaged goods after injuries that caused them to be devalued by their original teams.

You can't be a general manager if you aren't something of a risk taker. The key is taking the right risks or, as one longtime scout suggests, "getting lucky" on the players you acquire.

Few teams have ever gotten as "lucky" as the St. Louis Cardinals did with Carpenter. They beat the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles and a handful of other teams to him after the Toronto Blue Jays had offered him only a minor league contract at the end of the 2002 season, when he was recovering from shoulder surgery.

The Cardinals had to be patient, investing in him throughout a 2003 season that brought a second surgery, but since then have watched Carpenter win one Cy Young and finish third another time as they reigned in the National League Central.

Oakland received a quicker reward for signing Thomas to a one-year, low base salary contract last offseason, after recurring stress fractures in his left ankle sidelined Thomas during the Chicago White Sox's 11-1 romp through the playoffs. The A's wouldn't have advanced to the ALCS without getting 39 home runs and 114 RBI from Thomas.

While the price required was low, counting on Thomas was a high-risk endeavor for Oakland general manager Billy Beane. The reward was equally high.

Here's a breakdown of the risks presented by some high-profile, damaged-goods members of the current free-agent class:

INF Nomar Garciaparra
Three of his last six seasons have been severely impacted by a variety of injuries, but he's somehow kept his career batting average at .318. He played in 122 games last season after the Dodgers shifted him to first base, logging his most games since he played 156 for Boston in 2003. The husband of soccer star Mia Hamm, Garciaparra is a fitness freak who should get healthier as he moves into his 30s, and away from the middle infield. Los Angeles has redoubled its efforts to keep him after J.D. Drew exercised an out clause in his contract. Garciaparra seems a better fit for the American League, where he can split his time between the field and designated hitter.

LHP Randy Wolf
With more than 11 wins only once in eight seasons, Wolf doesn't leap off the list of available pitchers. But there's more there than what the Philadelphia Phillies got from him in recent seasons, most likely because of elbow problems that were corrected with Tommy John surgery midway through 2005. He made 19 starts a year ago, including seven on a rehab assignment, and appears to have made a clean recovery. He could be a bargain for a National League team, and the Phillies will almost certainly regret it if he gets away.

OF Luis Gonzalez
In a limited role, Gonzalez could be useful. He turns 40 in September but has kept himself in good shape, battling through recent elbow injuries to maintain a streak of having played at least 105 games in 16 consecutive seasons. He's had more walks than strikeouts in five of the last six years, and hit at least 15 home runs for nine years in a row (including that crazy-high total of 57 in 2001, when he helped Arizona win the World Series). It might be time for him to add first base to his bag of tricks or move to the AL, but he's a good bet to help someone.

OF J.D. Drew
When Drew exercised an out clause in Los Angeles, he became one of the most dynamic hitters on the market. But this is a guy who has never played more than 146 games in a season, and managed more than 135 only twice in his eight-year career. He's a solid right fielder and could play anywhere in the outfield, especially at a small park like Wrigley Field. His left-handed bat would balance the right-leaning Cubs, but there's a reason he will find himself with his fourth team in five years.

LHP Mark Mulder
Shoulder surgeries are always tricky, and several teams are scared by how poorly Mulder was pitching before going under the knife last season (6-7, 7.14 ERA). But don't overlook Mulder's 88-40 record from 2001 through '05, including a 16-8 season after being traded from Oakland to St. Louis. According to some scouts, the big thing in Mulder's favor is that he is a superior athlete for a pitcher. He also possesses a strong mind. He may never again string together complete games, as he did for the Athletics early in his career, but any team bold enough to sign him to a multiyear contract (even one and an option) could be rewarded in a big way once he is on track.

RHP Adam Eaton
Long one of the biggest teases in baseball, Eaton was never right in 2006 after taking a grounder off his hand in spring training. The reports on his health are good, even if teams no longer look at him to be a No. 2 or 3 starter. He probably needs to return to the NL, but has an unusually fresh arm for a free-agent pitcher.

RHP Kip Wells
Like Eaton, Wells was a major disappointment for Rangers rookie general manager Jon Daniels. He made only two starts after being acquired in a deadline trade from Pittsburgh. He had some soreness in his shoulder, but the bigger problem was a foot issue, which required surgery. He has received a clean bill of health and will be determined to get back to being a dependable starter, as he was in Pittsburgh from 2002 through '04.

DH Frank Thomas
Hard to believe Oakland allowed Thomas to reach the free-agent market after what he delivered in 2006, but he and Beane could not agree on his value. Texas is among the teams that are considering taking him away from the Athletics. He's only 13 homers short of 500, and is still one of the best designated hitters in the game if he's healthy. He seems to have turned a page in his conditioning program, but he always looks like he's one trip from first to third away from landing on the DL.

RHP Kerry Wood
Jim Hendry says Wood ignored a lot of interest from other teams to re-sign with the Cubs, but nobody was going to count on a guy with his history of arm injuries. He's less of a risk slotted into the bullpen than the rotation, but don't expect the new role to be a miracle cure. He's still dealing with the same pitching coach (Larry Rothschild) and medical staff that have failed to keep him on the mound since 2003, when Dusty Baker rode him and Mark Prior like rented mules.

OF Cliff Floyd
An aging disappointment, health always seems an issue for Floyd. He teased the New York Mets with a 150-game performance in 2005 but was back down to 97 games last season. He's considered a power-hitting outfielder but has generated 20 homers only once in the last four years.

OF Moises Alou
Felipe's son turned 40 in July, which dates us all a bit. He can still hit, but the decline could be fast for a guy who is a ballplayer, not a specimen. His at-bats total has declined two years in a row, and he's delivered 100 RBI only once in the last five years. He could benefit from a move to the American League or as a platoon player in the NL.

OF Barry Bonds
Amazingly, he led the NL in walks while playing only 130 games last season. But his injuries and day-to-day questions about availability reduce his pursuit of Henry Aaron's record to a distasteful sideshow. He tried hard to fit in as a teammate in San Francisco last year, but he's never going to be one of the fellows. Factor in the legal cloud over his head and a possible suspension after MLB's steroids committee issues its findings, and you've got the best hitter nobody wants.

CL Eric Gagne
Remember him? Arguably the best reliever from 2002 through '04, the guy's a physical wreck. He had Tommy John surgery years ago but has continued to have elbow problems, leading to two surgeries to remove a nerve, and then added back surgery to his list of procedures over the summer. The Los Angeles Dodgers cut ties with him, and he's attempting a comeback as a setup man. The Rangers are among the teams with at least some interest in him, but the odds of him holding together for 50 appearances are huge.

Phil Rogers is the national baseball writer for the Chicago Tribune, which has a Web site at www.chicagosports.com. His book, "Say It's So," a story about the 2005 White Sox, is available at bookstores, through amazon.com or direct order from Triumph Publishing (800-222-4657).